H 3305 Joint Resolution, By Herbkersman and Witherspoon
 A JOINT RESOLUTION TO CREATE A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE BENEFICIAL USES OF
 INDUSTRIAL HEMP, TO PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE'S MEMBERSHIP, AND TO
 REQUIRE THAT THE STUDY COMMITTEE REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO
 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2008, AT WHICH TIME THE STUDY
 COMMITTEE IS ABOLISHED.

   01/17/07  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-36
   01/17/07  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-36
   01/10/08  House  Recalled from Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-363
   01/10/08  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-363

TO CREATE A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE BENEFICIAL USES OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP, TO PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE'S MEMBERSHIP, AND TO REQUIRE THAT THE STUDY COMMITTEE REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2008, AT WHICH TIME THE STUDY COMMITTEE IS ABOLISHED.

Whereas, hemp is cannabis grown specifically for industrial use and contains very low levels of cannabinoids (THC). Thus, grown properly it has virtually no intoxicating effects when consumed; and

Whereas, because hemp has a relatively short growth cycle of one hundred twenty days, it is an efficient and economical crop for farmers to grow; and

Whereas, a variety of useful materials can be made from hemp such as paper, textiles, building materials, food, medicine, paint, detergent, varnish, oil, ink, and fuel; and

Whereas, for these and other reasons, it is fitting for the General Assembly to study the beneficial uses of industrial hemp. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    (A)    There is created a committee to study the beneficial uses of industrial hemp. The committee shall:

(1)    study the many beneficial uses of industrial hemp including, but not limited to, the use of industrial hemp oil as an alternative fuel and the use of industrial hemp fiber in construction and paper products;

(2)    examine the economic opportunities industrial hemp provides to the State;

(3)    consider the desirability and feasibility of pursuing authorization of the cultivation and production of industrial hemp as a farm product in the State;

(4)    review current scientific and business literature on the many uses of industrial hemp as an alternative fuel and motor oil, the uses of omega-3 rich industrial hemp seed and industrial hemp oil in snack foods, body care products, and food supplements; the uses of industrial hemp fibers as raw materials for construction and paper products and for fabric; and the uses of industrial hemp in the manufacture of recyclable car parts;

(5)    review scientific literature on the different types of hemp and how industrial hemp differs from hemp that is the illegal substance marijuana;

(6)    review current economic literature on the economic benefits of, and the economic markets for, the products made using industrial hemp;

(7)    review actions taken by the federal government and actions by other states to produce industrial hemp for industrial uses;

(8)    evaluate the economic opportunities for the State that may result from the production of industrial hemp as a farm product and manufacture of industrial hemp products; and

(9)    other issues the committee deems relevant.

(B)    The committee is composed of the following members:

(1)    two members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

(2)    two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3)    two members appointed by the Governor;

(4)    the chairman of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee or his designee;

(5)    the chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee or his designee;

(6)    the Commissioner of Agriculture or his designee;

(7)    the director of the Department of Commerce or his designee;

(8)    the president of the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation or his designee;

(9)    the dean of Clemson University or his designee; and

(10)    the dean of the University of South Carolina or his designee.

(C)    The members of the committee shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualify or the committee is dissolved. Vacancies on the committee must be filled in the manner of the original appointment and for the remainder of the unexpired term. The members of the committee shall appoint a chairman and vice chairman.

(D)    The staffing for the committee must be provided by the appropriate committees of the Senate and House of Representatives at the discretion of the President Pro Tempore and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.

(E)    The committee, in the discharge of its duties, is authorized to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum, to compel the attendance of witnesses and production of documents, books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, and other relevant records to its study.

(F)    Members of the committee may receive per diem, subsistence, and mileage as provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions to be paid from the approved accounts of the entity of the public official who appointed the member.

(G)    The committee must render its report and recommendations to the General Assembly before January 15, 2008, at which time it is dissolved.

SECTION    2.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.